Title: sing it loud and clear
pairing: Dick Grayson/Artemis Crock
prompt:Today's episode.
a/n:Welp I have some unexpected unrequited Traught feelings. So have this, I guess.
Sing It Loud and Clear
This is the closest that I'll ever get to kissing her, he thinks and tries to ignore the fact that for all intents and purposes Artemis Crock really is dead. For now.
The pill did a good job of lowering her heart rate to such a degree that not even Conner can hear it, and the blood looks, feels, and smells like it's freshly dripping from her body. But it's all a bit too real for him.
He pretends one more time to get her heart to beat, but even when it doesn't he isn't worried. Or at least, that's what he tells himself.
Conner and Megan react the way that he expects them to and for a moment Dick wants to tell them. But he can't. If too many people know what the plan is that's just a bigger risk of information making its way to the wrong ears.
Dick is pretty sure that the new team doesn't have a mole, but he won't ever forget the way that it felt to have that threat hanging over them. So it's just better if not everyone knows everything all the time.
"I'll-" he starts, and cuts himself off for a second to clear his throat. He's surprised by how thick his voice is, at how much looking at her like this hurts. He knows it isn't real. He had orchestrated the whole thing. And yet... seeing her prone body on the shore of that beach is the worst thing that he's ever seen, and he's lived in Gotham for half his life now. "I'll take care of her body. And tell Wally." The name makes his chest burn and he pretends like he doesn't know why.
M'gann and Conner nod, tears burning in their eyes, and Dick looks down at Artemis and starts counting down the time until she wakes up. Because she will wake up. She will.
For a fleeting moment he thinks he realizes why Wally didn't want to come. Seeing Artemis like this, practically lifeless and bloody on the ground, it makes his heart contort into uncomfortable positions.
Dick has no reason to be this upset, and he knows it. Artemis doesn't love him, and he shouldn't love her. But he does and it burns, burns every time he goes to their place in Palo Alto, every time he sees them kiss and hears them call each other, "babe" because it's not anything that he'll ever get the chance to do with her.
It takes an hour, but eventually her body shudders, her eyes open. "Hey Nightwing," she says, smiling even though her voice is raspier than before. "Who knew dying hurt so much, right?" As she coughs Dick tries not to think of his successor that's six feet under and how much his death must have hurt, and how Jason won't ever get a second shot. He's so tired of watching people die.
"Let's get you to Wally," he says roughly, getting out of his crouching position and focuses on his popping joints. He hadn't moved a muscle after he sent Conner and M'gann away to spread the news. "He's probably been on edge all night."
"On the edge of the Empire State Building," Artemis agrees, smiling at him.
Wally's waiting for them, where they all agreed to meet, and he rushes to meet Artemis as soon as he notices them. "Babe, you're okay." His best friend's voice is drowning in relief, and when they kiss, long and deep, Dick has to look away.
It's natural now, and it's not like they notice.
"Told you it would be," Artemis whispers, looking back at Dick and he tries to smile back. "Nightwing will always take care of me."
And as sad as it is, she's right.
